At the 2024 CCBC Book Awards, author Jean E. Pendziwol and illustrator Todd Stewart took home the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award and $50,000—the largest cash prize in Canadian children’s literature. Their book, Skating Wild on an Inland Sea, describes the exhilarating experience that two children have while skating on the wild ice of Lake Superior, including the haunting singing that occurs as the ice expands and contracts.
We had the joy of talking with Jean E. and Todd about the creative processes behind Skating Wild on an Inland Sea.
What inspired the story in Skating Wild on an Inland Sea?
Jean E.: I grew up in Northwestern Ontario and Thunder Bay. I spent a good portion of my childhood out on Lake Superior sailing. Now we have a family home on the shores of Lake Superior in Neebing. We’ve had the opportunity for a number of years—when conditions are ideal—to actually skate on Lake Superior. It's an incredible, powerful experience to be out on the frozen surface of the largest freshwater lake in the world.
Were there details from that skating experience on Lake Superior that made it into the book?
Jean E.: What really stuck out to me when I was out skating was the sound the ice makes as it's moving and living. Even though it's frozen, it's still a lake.
Todd, what were your thoughts when you first read the manuscript? Did a vision come to mind for the illustrations?
Todd: The first time I read the manuscript, I immediately identified with the story. I come from the prairies and have spent time in Northern Ontario. I’ve skated on frozen lakes. And so I had an instant appreciation for the activity that these kids do. My background is in landscape architecture and urban design. I really attach to and identify with place. So I wanted to create this strong sense of place with the illustrations.
How else did you prepare to bring the story to life?
Todd: At the start of the project, Jeannie had invited me out to her parents' place outside of Thunder Bay. I stayed a week in the winter and soaked it all up. I was able to draw from what I saw and experienced out there. I think you can see it in the illustrations in the book.
How did you approach capturing the light and colour of a winter’s day?
Todd: I also come from a background in printmaking and silkscreen. So when I work on an image, I work hard to capture the colour and light from a place. Following the flow of the story, it felt natural to explore that transition between the early part of the morning and the bright, bright daylight. At the beginning of the day, there’s a lot of purple. Then as the day progresses, things are more blue. To me, it was a good way to lend consistency to the story.
Can you two share more about what it was like to collaborate on this book?
Jean E.: As writer and visual artist collaborating on a book, we create independently, with the illustrator taking inspiration from the text. To me, this is such an exciting part of being a creator in the world of picture books for kids. But I want to say how grateful I am that Todd came up to Northwestern Ontario to immerse himself in the environment. This story is evocative of place, and Todd has captured that in such a perfect way. I'm so grateful for that.
Todd: I do feel like this book, of all the books that I've worked on, has that feeling of co-creation—of working together. It was a special experience. We launched the book in Thunder Bay. We also did a panel together on co-creation. I feel privileged to have been in the community as the book went out into the world. It’s become a special place for me. It’s been nice to sort of inhabit this book.
Jean E.: When both forms of storytelling come together, especially as they have in this book, what arrives between the words and images is something entirely new and dependent on the other. That’s the magic of co-creation. I think this book is a testament to that.
Learn more about Jean E. Pendziwold on her website or follow her on Instagram: @jpendzi.
Learn more about Todd Stewart on his website or follow him on Instagram: @toddallanstewart.